Report on Successful 26-hour Virtual Picket to End the U.S. Blockade on Cuba!
big thank you to everyone who supported and participated in the Canadian Network on Cuba’s 2nd 26-hour virtual picket against the U.S. Blockade on Cuba, June 22-23, 2021. The event was a great success!
>> A REPORT AND LETTER OF THANKS! <<
From June 17-23, 2021 an international week of action was called. Organizations around the world used this week to raise their united voices against the cruel and unjust U.S. blockade against Cuba. Political events, protests, webinars, art shows, car caravans, bike caravans, marches, and other creative actions were organized by the Cuba solidarity movement around the world. This coincided with Cuba’s preparation to introduce its resolution for the world to condemn this unjust U.S. policy at the United Nations General Assembly for the 29th time.
The Canadian Network on Cuba responded to this call with a 2nd 26-hour virtual picket against the U.S. blockade on Cuba as part of this important week of action. This was an important time to unite and reflect the amazing work being done by groups and individuals around the world and to show that our solidarity will continue until the blockade is lifted!
The event began on Tuesday June 22, with a special welcoming from Her Excellency Josefine Vidal, Cuban Ambassador to Canada. Throughout the 26 hours many amazing speakers from activists, to academics, to politicians, to students, to union representatives, to artists raised their voices against the blockade.
It was inspiring that the global action brought together more than 2,000 people from 59 countries and nations contributing 100+ solidarity messages demanding #UnblockCuba! We were grateful to be joined by: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Belgium, Belize, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada, China, Colombia, Congo, Cuba, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, England, Fiji, Germany, Guinea Bissau, Haiti, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kiribati, Laos, Mexico, Micronesia, Mongolia, Namibia, Nicaragua, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Quebec, Russia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela, and Vietnam!
Through the online action, we were able to reflect the great victory for Cuba at the United Nations General Assembly on June 23 – when the UN condemned the cruel U.S. blockade on Cuba for the 29th consecutive vote! A total of 184 countries voted in favour of Cuba’s resolution demanding the end of the U.S. economic blockade, only 2 countries (the U.S. and Israel) voted against the resolution.
To wrap up a successful 24-hour protest, we co-organized with the U.S.-Cuba Normalization Conference Committee and the Cuban Mission at the United Nations for a special cultural and political celebration, bringing the event to 26 hours! This special program included Cuban-American activist, Carlos Lazo, of “Puentes de Amor” who announced he would be walking with a group of Cuban-Americans from Miami to Washington DC during the month of July 2021 to demand an end to the U.S. blockade on Cuba. The celebrational event also featured a heart-felt address from His Excellency Pedro Luis Pedroso, Permanent Representative of Cuba at the UN.
The Canadian Network on Cuba would like to thank everyone who participated in this important event and recognize the special support of: Instituto Cubano de Amistad con los Pueblos (ICAP-Cuba), El Movimiento Colombiano de Solidaridad con Cuba (MCSC-Colombia), Australia-Cuba Friendship Society WA, The U.S.-Cuba Normalization Conference Organizing Committee (U.S.), Cuba Support Group Ireland (CGSI), Associazione Nazionale di Amicizia Italia-Cuba, Table de concertation et de solidarité Québec – Cuba & The National Network on Cuba (NNOC) – U.S.
You’re welcome to register here the next monthly virtual picket of the Canadian Network on Cuba on July 17: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_ZZ_td6IwQuefkt9sfyCeVw
Let us continue to work together towards an end to the U.S. blockade on Cuba!
In Solidarity,
Tamara Hansen
Executive Member of the Canadian Network on Cuba (CNC) & Central organizer of the 26-hour virtual event
** To view the Facebook livestream videos of the 26-hour virtual picket:
PART 1: https://fb.watch/6nubtto0hX/
PART 2: https://fb.watch/6nzb8m-bIY/
PART 3: https://fb.watch/6nua9ocmfh/
PART 4: https://fb.watch/6nu8T_QCk6/